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Council narrows city ADU flexibility after state law change; eliminates reduced rear setback allowance
Summary
Ames City Council voted to change local accessory dwelling unit rules to comply with a new state law and removed one local allowance that had permitted ADUs to be built as close as three feet to rear property lines.
The Ames City Council voted Tuesday to revise local ADU rules in response to a recent change in Iowa state law that removes several municipal controls over accessory dwelling units.
Staff advised council the state law prevents local governments from requiring owner‑occupancy for either unit, from imposing parking mandates for ADUs and requires cities not to be more restrictive for ADUs than for the principal single‑family structure. The planning manager told council the city’s earlier ADU code had been intentionally more permissive — for example,…
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